TV Times

TV Times

G. D. L. on a butterfly trail
By Susitha R. Fernando
Veteran drama and film producer/ director G.D.L. Perera is back in Sri Lanka after a long period of stay in England. “Samanala Gamanak” (The Butterfly Trail) is his latest venture in the teledrama field.

In the sixties, through his well known cultural institute “Kalapela” he unearthed such talented artistes like Denawake Hamine, Dhamma Jagoda, Elson Divithurugama, Leonie Weerasinghe and Nilanthi Wijesinghe. Young programme makers of the calibre of I.N. Hewawasam, P.U.D. Perera, Bermyn Lyle Fernando and Parakrama Niriella also had their training at the Kalapela film institute, in the seventies.

“Thotupola”, “Saama”, “Dahasak Sithuwili” were some of GDL’s award winning contributions to the stage and screen. His first teledrama “Ratagiya Atto” was also very popular, in the eighties.

Making his home in the beautiful village called Karalliyadda in the Dumbara Valley, Kandy, he has once again started an Institute to train youngsters from the village. “Talent is in abundance in these rural areas and my training is absolutely free”, says GDL.

Using some of these trainees both in front of and behind the camera - and, with the assistance of some of his friends and past pupils (Roshan Pilapitiya - Nilanthi Munasinghe - Buddhi Wickrama - G.R. Perera - Daya Alwis - Namel and Malini Weeramuni- Gnanange Gunawardana and Tissa Madawala) GDL has just completed an 18 part teledrama called “Samanala Gamanak” (The Butterfly Trail).

“Samanala Gamanak” is about a group of young dramatists fighting their way through to win top awards at a National Drama competition, “In passing we comment on the state of the Arts, in a highly commercialised setting” says GDL.

Samanala Gamanak tells the story of a young play-producer who fights all odds to win the Top Award at a National Drama Competition, and also, to secure the love of his leading lady. It also reflects, satirically, the state of the Arts, in a highly commercialised setting.

Sanath Gurusinghe (Palitha Bandara Wijesinghe) is the producer-director of a group of young theatre-lovers called “Teetarkarayo”. Their latest production, a comedy named “Magul Mathe” has been selected for the finals at a National Drama Competition to be held in Badulla.

Their main rival is a play called “Kakko” by a new director Kusal (Roshan Pilapitiya) which has Pabaa (Shamalee Handunge), the former leading actress of the “Teetarkarayo” group, in the lead. Devadatta (Elson Divithurugama) Pabaa’s older brother - a devious manager of a funeral parlour, for whose actions a high society woman Mrs. Bahu Baarya (Nilanthi Munasinghe) is threatening him with legal action, is very angry with the “Teetarkarayo” as he believes they deprived his sister the opportunity of becoming the Best Actress by taking on a new actress Tamaara (Ayesha Madhushani), the young daughter of the “Teetarkarayo” benefactor Srimath Lankeshwara (Gnananga Gunawardana). G. D. L.’s Samanala Gamanak is completed and is awaiting sponsorship.

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